Kenya loses 9 women daily to Cervical Cancer, with over 3,000 deaths recorded annually

Kenya is losing nine women daily to Cervical Cancer with statistics showing that over 3000 women die annually due to the disease that has been categorized as the world’s second killer disease.

In Kenya, there are 5,226 new cases of Cervical Cancer reported yearly. The government says the statistics are too grim and the Ministry of Health is emphasizing more screening and early treatment to combat the rising cases that are robbing the country of productive women.

Speaking in Nyandarua county where the country converged to mark the world Cervical Cancer Day, Public health and professional standards Principal Secretary, Mary Muthoni, said the ministry of Health has embarked on a programme targeting 14-year-old school going girls for vaccination as they are also at risk.

Susan Macharia, a breast cancer survivor, who is also a screening advocate in Nyandarua, called on the government to invest more resources in the Social Health Insurance to cater for cancer patients, noting that the burden is not only huge on a family, but the community at large.